Motion simulator

• US 4,753,596 A
• Filed: 08/15/1986
• Issued: 06/28/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Singer Company (SVP Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Singer Company (SVP Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lee, William D., Hart, John W., Summerfield, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US06/896,784
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 434/29, 434/34, 434/51, 434/55, 434/56, 434/57, 434/58, 434/59, 434/62, 434/69
• US Class Current: 434/29
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/14 controlled by fluid actuated piston or cylinder ram

Abstract

A motion simulator for simulating the working characteristics of motion vehicles is based on the synergistic `six degrees of freedom` system. The apparatus of the simulator comprises a main frame 10 mounted on three pairs of extensible and retractable legs 11 by means of a corresponding number of universal pivots. The pairs of legs 11 are arranged in a triangular formation on the underside of the frame 10 such that adjacent legs 11 from adjacent vertices of the formation converge to a common foot, to which they are secured by further universal pivots 13. Movement of the frame 10 is achieved by the relative extension and retraction of the legs 11.

Supplementary longitudinal acceleration effects are simulated by means of a surge frame 14 slidably mounted on the main frame 10 and independently actuated by means of a piston and cylinder device 17 to move in a fore/aft sense with respect to the frame 10.

Claims

1. A motion simulator for simulating the motion of a land vehicle such as a tank that provides simulation of motion in six degrees of freedom and includes pitch, roll, yaw rotationally and longitudinal, lateral, and vertical linearly and in addition permits a second, independent longitudinal linear motion simulation comprising:

a land vehicle training cockpit for simulating a particular type of land vehicle;

a main support frame;

anchoring means;

a six degree of freedom synergistic motion assembly connected to said main frame, said six degree of freedom motion assembly including six extensible and retractable legs, each leg connected at one end to the main frame, and at the other end of said anchoring means such that each leg is anchored in a fixed position relative to the other legs;

means for independently actuating each of said legs;

a surge frame connected to said vehicle cockpit;

a straight track connected to said main frame and disposed along the track longitudinal axis in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle cockpit, said surge frame movably connected to said track; and

actuating means connected to said surge frame and said main frame for moving said surge frame linearly along said track to provide independent additional longitudinal linear motion to said cockpit regardless of the position of the six degree of freedom motion assembly legs.